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Loretta Lynch briefing after suing NC over HB2

U.S. Attorney General and Greensboro native Loretta Lynch discusses a federal lawsuit it filed against North Carolina hours after Gov. Pat McCrory sued her office. Both suits pertain to House Bill 2. The first minute of her briefing is unavailable in this video.

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Updated: 6:02 PM EDT May 9, 2016

Loretta Lynch briefing after suing NC over HB2

U.S. Attorney General and Greensboro native Loretta Lynch discusses a federal lawsuit it filed against North Carolina hours after Gov. Pat McCrory sued her office. Both suits pertain to House Bill 2. The first minute of her briefing is unavailable in this video.

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Updated: 6:02 PM EDT May 9, 2016

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WEBVTT BATHROOM THAT SUITSTHEIR GENDER IDENTITY.IN SO DOING, THE LEGISLATURE ANDTHE GOVERNOR PLACED NORTHCAROLINA IN DIRECT OPPOSITION TOFEDERAL LAWS PROHIBITINGDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OFSEX AND GENDER IDENTITY.MORE TO THE POINT, THEY CREATEDSTATE-SPONSORED DISSEMINATIONAGAINST TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS,WHO SIMPLY - STATE-SPONSOREDDISCRIMINATION AGAINSTTRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS.LAST WEEK, OUR CIVIL RIGHTSDIVISION NOTIFIED STATEOFFICIALS IN NORTH CAROLINA THATHOUSE BILL TO VIOLATES FEDERALCIVIL RIGHTS LAWS -- HOUSE BILLTWO VIOLATES FEDERAL CIVILRIGHTS LAWS.WE SAID THAT IF THEY WOULD NOT--AN EXTENSION WAS REQUESTED BYNORTH CAROLINA AND WAS UNDERACTIVE CONSIDERATION.INSTEAD OF REPLYING TO OUR OFFEROR PROVIDING CERTIFICATI, THISMORNING, THE STATE OF NORTHCAROLINA AND THE GOVERNOR CLOSE-- CHOSE TO RESPOND BY SUING THEDEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.AS A RESULT OF THEIR DECISIONS,WE ARE NOW MOVING FORWA.TODAY, WE ARE FILING A FEDERALCIVIL RIGHTS LAWSUIT AGAINST THESTATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,GOVERNOR PAT MCCRORY, THE NORTHCAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLICSAFETY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OFNORTH CAROLINA.WE ARE SEEKING A COURT ORDERDECLARING HB2' RESTROOPERMISSIONS DISCRIMINATORY ASWELL AS A STATEWIDE BAR ON ITSENFORCEMENT.I WANT TO KNOW THAT WE RETAINTHE OPTION OF CURTAILING FEDERALFUNDING TO THE NORTH CAROLINADEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ANDTHE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINAAS THIS CASE PROCEEDS.BUT THIS ACTION IS ABOUT A GREATDEAL MORE THAN BATHROOMS.THIS IS ABOUT TH DIGNITY ANDRESPECT THAT WE ACCORD OURFELLOW CITIZENS AND THE LAWSTHAT WE AS A PEOPLE AND AS ACOUNTRY HAVE ENACTED TO PROTECTTHEM, INDEED TO PROTECT ALL OFUS.AND IT IS ABOUT THE FOUNDINGIDEALS THAT HAVE LED THISCOUNTRY HALTINGLY BUT INEXORABLYIN THE DIRECTION OF FAIRNESS,INCLUSION, AND EQUALITY FOR ALLAMERICANS.THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THATWE HAVE SEEN DISCRIMINATORYRESPONSES TO HISTORIC MOMENTS OFPROGRESS FOR OUR NATION.WE SIGHED IN THE JIM CROW LAWSTHAT FOLLOWED THE EMANCIPATIONPROCLAMATION.WE SAW IT IN THE FIERCE ANDWIDESPREAD RESISTANCE TO BROWN VBOARD OF EDUCATION.WE SAW IT IN THE PROLIFERATIONOF STATE BANS ON SAME-SEX UNIONSTHAT WERE INTENDED TO STIFLE ANYHOPE THAT GAY AND LESBIANAMERICANS MIGHT ONE DAY BEAFFORDED THE RIGHT TO MARRY.THAT RIGHT IS NOW RECOGNIZED ASA GUARANTEE EMBEDDED IN OURCONSTITUTION.IN THE WAKE OF THAT HISTORICTRIUMPH, WE HAVE SEEN BILL AFTERBILL IN STATE AFTER STATE TAKINGAIM AT THE LGBT COMMUNITY.SOME OF THESE RESPONSES REFLECTA RECOGNIZABLY HUMAN FEAR OF THEUNKNOWN AND A DISCOMFORT WITHTHE UNCERTAINTY OF CHANGE, BUTTHIS IS NOT A TIME TO ACT OUT OFFEAR.THIS IS A TIME TO SUMMON OURNATIONAL VIRTUES OF INCLUSIVITY,DIVERSITY, COMPASSION, ANDOPEN-MINDEDNESS.AND WHAT WE MUST NOT DO, WHAT WEMUST NEVER DO IS TURN ON OURNEIGHBORS, OUR FAMILY MEMBERS,OUR FELLOW AMERICANS FORSOMETHING THEY CANNOT CONTROLAND DENY WHAT MAKES THEM HUMAN.THIS IS WHY NONE OF US CAN STANDBY WHEN A STATE ENTERS THEBUSINESS OF LEGISLATING IDENTITAND INSISTS THAT A PERSONPRETEND TO BE SOMETHING ORSOMEONE THAT THEY ARE NOT ORINVENTS PROBLEM THAT DOES NOTEXIST AS A PRETEXT FORDISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT.LET ME SPEAK NOW DIRECTLY TO THEPEOPLE OF THE GREAT STATE, THEBEAUTIFUL STATE, MY HOME STATEOF NORTH CAROLINA.YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS LAWPROTECTS VULNERABLE POPULATIONSFROM HARM, BUT THAT IS JUST NOTTHE CASE.INSTEAD, WHAT THIS LAW DOES ISINFLICT FURTHER INDIGNITY ON APOPULATION THAT HAS ALREADYSUFFERED FAR MORE THAN ITS FAIRSHARE.THIS LAW PROVIDES NO BENEFIT TOSOCIETY, AND ALL IT DOES IS HARMINNOCENT AMERICANS.INSTEAD OF TURNING AWAY FROM OURNEIGHBORS, OUR FRIENDS, AND OURCOLLEAGUES, LET US INSTEAD LEARNFROM OUR HISTORY AND AVOIDREPEATING THE MISTAKES OF OURPA, AND LET US REFLECT ON THEOBVIOUS, BUT OFTEN NEGLECTEDLESSONS THAT STATE-SANCTIONEDDISCRIMINATION NEVER LOOKS GOODAND NEVER WORKS IN HINDSIGHT.IT WAS NOT SO VERY LONG AGO THATSTATES, INCLUDING NORTHCAROLINA, HAD OTHER SIGNS ABOVERESTROOMS, WATER FOUNTAINS, ANDON PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS,KEEPING PEOPLE OUT BASED ON ADISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENC.WE HAVE MOVED BEYOND THOSE DARKDAYS, BUT NOT WITHOUT ATREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PAIN ANDSUFFERING AND AN ONGOING FIGHTTO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.LET US WRITE A DIFFERENT STORYTHIS TIME.LET US NOT ACT OUT OF FEAR ANDMISUNDERSTANDING, BUT OUT OF THEVALUES OF INCLUSION ANDDIVERSITY AND REGARD FOR ALLTHAT MAKES OUR COUNTRY GREAT.AND LET ME ALSO SPEAK DIRECTLYTO THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITYITSELF.SOME OF YOU HAVE LIVED FREELYFOR DECADES, AND OTHERS OF YOUARE STILL WONDERING HOW YOU CANPOSSIBLY LIVE THE LIVE THAT YOUWERE BORN TO LIVE -- TWO LEAD --LIVE THE LIVES THAT YOU WEREBORN TO LEAD.THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND,INDEED, THE ENTIRE OBAMAADMINISTRATION, WANT YOU TO KNOWTHAT WE SEE YOU, WE STAND WITHYOU, AND WE WILL DO EVERYTHINGWE CAN TO PROTECT YOU GOINGFORWARD.AND PLEASE KNOW THAT HISTORY ISON YOUR SIDE.THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON THEPROMISE OF EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL.WE HAVE ALWAYS MANAGED TO MOVECLOSER TO THAT IDEAL, LITTLE BYLITTLE, DAY BY DAY.AND IT MAY NOT BE EASY, BUT WEWILL GET THERE TOGETHER.LET ME ALSO THANK MY COLLEAGUESIN THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION,WHO HAS DEVOTED MANY HOURS TOTHIS CASE SO FAR AND WHO WILLDEVOTE MANY MORE TO SEEING ITTHROUGH.AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN MY --THE PODIUM OVER TO VINITA GUPTA.>> THANK YOU, ATTORNEY GENERALLYNCH FOR THOSE VERY POWERFULWORDS.THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY OF OURCOUNTRY'S HISTORY, THERE HAVEBEEN PIVOTAL MOMENTS WHENAMERICA'S LEADERS CHOSE TO STANDUP AND SPEAK OUT TO SAFEGUARDTHE IDEAL OF EQUAL JUSTICE UNDERLAW.HISTORY WILL RECORD YOURINSPIRING WORDS AND OUR FORCEFULACTION TODAY AS ONE OF THOSEMOMENTS.I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TOTHANK THE ENTIRE TEAM THROUGHOUTTHE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION ANDTHE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WHOHAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY OVER THELAST SEVERAL WEEKS TO ENSURETHAT EVERYONE IN NORTH CAROLINAHAS THE FULL PROTECTION OF OURLAWS.TODAY, WE FILED A FEDERAL CIVILRIGHTS COMPLAINT IN FEDERALCOURT IN THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OFNORTH CAROLINA.BEFORE I ESPOUSE THE LEGALDETAILS OF OUR ARGUMENT, I WANTTO MAKE ONE THING CLEAR, CALLINGHB2 BATHROOM BILL TRIVIALIZESWHAT THIS IS ABOUT.HB2 TRANSLATES TO DISCRIMINATIONIN THE REAL WORLD.THE COMPLAINT WE FILED TODAYSPEAKS TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WHOFEEL AFRAID AND STIGMATIZED ONTHE JOBS.IT SPEAKS TO STUDENTS WHO FEELLIKE THEIR CAMPUS TREATS THEMDIFFERENTLY BECAUSE OF WHO THEYARE.IT SPEAKS TO SPORTS FANS WHOFEEL FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEENTHEIR GENDER IDENTITY AND THEIRIDENTITY AS A TAR HEEL.IT SPEAKS TO ALL OF US WHO HAVEEVER BEEN MADE TO FEEL INFERIOR,LIKE SOMEHOW WE JUST DON' WANTTO OUR COMMUNITY WE DON'T FITIN.LET ME ASSURE EVERY TRANSGENDERINDIVIDUALS IN AMERICA THAT YOUBELONG JUST LIKE YOU ARE, THATYOU ARE SUPPORTED, AND THAT YOUARE PROTECTED.OUR COMPLAINT BRINGS LEGAL ANDPLAYED UNDER THREE DIFFERENTCIVIL RIGHTS ACTIONS.TWO OF THESE ARE LONG-STANDINGPROTECTIONS AGAINSTDISCRIMINATION IN THE EMPLOYMENTAND EDUCATION CONTEXT.TITLE VII OF THE -- TITLE VIIAND TITLE IX.IT IS FITTING THAT THESESTATUTES, WHICH EMERGED FROM OURNATION'S LONG STRUGGLE TO BANISHDISCRIMINATION, ARE BEING USEDTO DEFEND, UPHOLD, AND CONTINUETHE PROGRESS THAT RESULTED FROMTHAT STRUGGLE, PROGRESS THATREPRESENTS AMERICA AT ITS BEST,BRIGHTEST, AND STRONGEST.TITLE IX AND TITLE VII PROHIBITSDISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEX.THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HASMADE CLEAR THAT DISCRIMINATIONAGAINST SEX INCLUDESDISCRIMINATION AGAINSTTRANSGENDER PEOPLE, INCLUDING ONGENDER IDENTITY.THAT'S CONSISTENT NOT ONLY WITHTHE LINKAGE OF THE STATUTE, BUTALSO WITH THE LEGALINTERPRETATION ADOPTED BYFEDERAL COURT, INCLUDING THEAPPELLATE COURT WITHJURISDICTION OVER THE STATE OFNORTH CAROLINA.THERE IS NOTHING RADIC OR EVENPARTICULARLY UNUSUAL ABOUT THENOTION THAT THE WORD "SEX"INCLUDES THE CONCEPT OF GENDER.TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AREDISSEMINATED AGAINST BECAUSETHEIR GENDER IDENTITY DOES NOTMAC -ARE DISCRIMINATEDAGAINST BECAUSE THEIR GENDERIDENTITY DOES NOT MATCH THE SEXTHEY WERE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.SEX DISCRIMINATION -- THIS ISSEX DISCRIMINATION, PLAIN ANDSIMPLE.HERE ARE THE FACTS.TRANSGENDER MEN ARE MEN.THEY LIVE, WORK, AND STUDY ASMEN.TRANSGENDER WOMEN ARE WOMEN.THEY LIVE, WORK, AND STUDY ASWOMEN.OUR TITLE VII CLAIM IS BROUGHTAGAINST THE STATE OF NORTHCAROLINA, THE NORTH CAROLINADEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ANDTHE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINABECAUSE OF SEX DISCRIMINATION INEMPLOYMENT.OUR TITLE IX CLAIM IS BROUGHTAGAINST UNIVERSITY OF NORTHCAROLINA BECAUSE OF SEXDISCRIMINATION IN ITS EDUCATIONPROGRAM.WE ALSO BRING A CLAIM UNDER THEVIOLENT AGAINST WOMEN ACT, VAWA,A MORE RECENT STATUTESPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PREVENTDISCRIMINATION AGAINSTTRANSGENDER PEOPLE BY ENTITIESTHAT ACCEPT FEDERAL FUNDS.THEY PLEDGED THAT THEY WOULD NOTDISCRIMINATE BASED ON THE GENDER-- BASED ON SEX OR GENDERIDENTITY.WE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLEFOR THE KIND OF DISCRIMINATIONTHAT IS REQUIRED BY HB2.EVEN AS WE SEEK THAT COMPLIANCE,WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO WORKINGWITH ANY AGENCY RECEIVINGFEDERAL FUNDING TO DEVELOP APLAN TO ENSURE THEIR COMPLIANCEWITH FEDERAL LAW.AND FOR THE REASONS I JUSTHIGHLIGHTED, HB2 VIOLATES THELAW.HB2 ALSO THREATENS THE BIO USE-- THE VALUES OF OUR PEOPLE.THESE VALUES SAY TO ALL PEOPLETHAT YOU CAN BE WHO YOU ARE ANDTHAT YOU DESERVE TO LIVE WITHDIGNITY.THE COMPLAINT FILED TODAY SEEKSTO ENFORCE THESE LAWS AND TOPROTECT THESE VALUES.I WILL PASS THE MIC TO THEATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO ISAVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS.REPORTER: YOU POINTED OUTCHARLOTTE PASSED THIS LAW THATWAS -- WOULD HAVE ALLOWEDTRANSGENDER PEOPLE TO CHOOSE ABATHROOM BASED ON HOW THEYIDENTIFY.THERE ARE MANY MUNICIPALITIESWHO HAD NOT PASSED LAWS THATSPECIFICALLY ALLOWED THAT.IS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENTTHINKING OF INTERVENING INPLACES THAT HAVE NOT PASSED LAWSLIKE THAT, AND WOULD YOUCONSIDER INTERVENING IN OTHERPLACES THAT HAVE DONE WHAT NORTHCAROLINA HAS DONE IF YOU SEE APATTERN THAT EVOLVES?ATTORNEY GENERAL LYNCH: LET MESPEAK TO THE LAST PART OF YOURQUESTION FIRST WITH RESPECT TOJURISDICTIONS THAT MAY HAVEPASSED OR ARE CONSIDERING LAWSSIMILAR TO HB2.TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE MADEAWARE OF THEM, WE ARE MONITORINGAND REVIEWING THOSE SITUATIONSAS WELL.WE REMAIN OPEN TO DISCUSSIONSWITH ANY JURISDICTION THAT HASQUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT APARTICULAR ORDINANCE IS GOING TOFALL AFOUL OF FEDERAL LAW.WITH RESPECT TO THE CHARLOTTEORDINANCE, IT ESSENTIALLY ADDEDTO I ANTIDISCRIMINATIONLANGUAGE, MAKING IT SURE THAT ITALSO AFFORDED PROTECTIONS FORTHOSE DEALING WITH ISSUES OFSEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDERIDENTITY.HB2 SAYING THAT IT CANNOT HAVETHAT AS PART OF YOUR LAWS MOVEDTO STRIKE THAT DOWN.WE WOULD ENCOURAGE JURISDICTIONSTO BE AS OPEN AND INCLUSIVE ASPOSSIBLE IN THEIRANTIDISCRIMINATION COVERAGE.REPORTER: YOU SAID YOU RETAINTHE RIGHT TO CURTAIL FEDERALFUNDING.WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD FOR THAT?AT WHAT POINT WILL YOU GO AFTERNORTH CAROLINA'S FEDERALFUNDING?ATTORNEY GENERAL LYNCH: THESTATUTES DO PROVIDE THEOPPORTUNITY TO CURTAIL FEDERALFUNDING UNDER TITLE IX AND UNDERTHE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT.BUT AS I SAID, WE REMAIN OPEN TODISCUSSIONS WITH THE STATE.WE WERE NO -- WE KNOW THAT THEUNIVERSITY SYSTEM HAS REACHEDOUT TO US.WE REMAINING JUST SEE WHAT THOSEDISCUSSIONS WILL BRING.WE ARE REFERRING -- DIFFERING --DEFERING ON THE RIGHT TOCURTAIL FUNDING, BUT WE RESERVETHAT RIGHT.IT WOULD BE WRITTEN -- PREMATURETO GIVE A DATE ON WHEN WE MIGHTTAKE THAT STEP.REPORTER: WHAT ABOUT THE CHARGETHAT YOU ARE BULLYING OR FEELINGOVER -- BULLYING OROVERREACHING?ATTORNEY GENERAL LYNCH I THINKTHE PEOPLE WHO FEEL BULLIED ARETHE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANSGENDERAND ARE BEING SINGLED OUT FORSOMETHING THEY HAVE NO CONTROLOVER AS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF WHOTHEY ARE.I WOULD SHIFT THE BULLYING TOCONSIDERATIONS ALONG THAT FRONT.THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA HASBEEN AWARE THAT WE HAVE BEENREVIEWING AND MONITORING THISLAW FOR SOME TIME.WE HAVE IN IN COMMUNICATION --WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNITY WITH-- WE HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATIONWITH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM FORSEVERAL WEEKS.AN EXTENSION WAS REQUESTED ANDWAS UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION.REPORTE MISSISSIPPI HAS PASSEDA LAW THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO NOTPROVIDE SERVICES IF THEYDISAGREE WITH SAME-SEX MARRIAGE,FOR INSTANCE.WHAT IS THE -- WHERE DOES THEJUSTICE DEPARTMENT FALL ON THISISSUE?DOES IT FALL UNDER CIVIL RIGHTSLAW LIKE THIS ONE DOES?ATTORNEY GENERAL LYNCH: TO THEEXTENT THAT ANY STATES ORJURISDICTIONS MAY PASS LAWS THATALLOW ANYONE TO DISCRIMINATE, WEWILL ALWAYS REVIEW THOSE LAWSAND IF THERE IS, IN FACT, ABASIS FOR FEDERAL REVIEW ANDINTERVENTIONS.WE REMAIN OPEN TO TALKING TOJURISDICTIONS WHO ARE CONCERNEDABOUT THIS.

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Loretta Lynch briefing after suing NC over HB2

U.S. Attorney General and Greensboro native Loretta Lynch discusses a federal lawsuit it filed against North Carolina hours after Gov. Pat McCrory sued her office. Both suits pertain to House Bill 2. The first minute of her briefing is unavailable in this video.